U.S. patent application number 15/680552 was filed with the patent office on 2018-02-22 for light collection and redirection to a solar panel.
The applicant listed for this patent is BIGZ TECH INC.. Invention is credited to Benjamin AHDOOT, Eliot AHDOOT, Simon AHDOOT.
Application Number | 20180054159 15/680552 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 61192214 |
Filed Date | 2018-02-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180054159 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
AHDOOT; Eliot ; et
al. |
February 22, 2018 |
LIGHT COLLECTION AND REDIRECTION TO A SOLAR PANEL
Abstract
There is provided a unit for light conversion in a building, The
unit comprises a solar panel comprising photovoltaic cells without
any light-absorbing or light-reflecting coating such as to be raw.
The photovoltaic cells can have a wavelength range of conversion
optimized for natural sunlight. The unit further comprises an
enclosure surrounding the solar panel and preventing the exposure
of the solar panel from direct light from outside the enclosure,
the enclosure comprising an input, There is provided a light guide
comprising an optical fiber and adapted for optical connection to
the light collector, the light guide being connectable to the
enclosure via the input, the light guide having an output end
located by the input of the enclosure and directed toward a surface
of the photovoltaic cells for illumination thereof. A light
collector is provided outside the building for collecting sunlight
and guiding the sunlight into the light guide.
Inventors: |
AHDOOT; Eliot;
(Dollard-des-Ormeaux, CA) ; AHDOOT; Simon;
(Toronto, CA) ; AHDOOT; Benjamin;
(Dollard-des-Ormeaux, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BIGZ TECH INC. |
Saint-Laurent |
|
CA |
|
|
Family ID: |
61192214 |
Appl. No.: |
15/680552 |
Filed: |
August 18, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62377894 |
Aug 22, 2016 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02B 10/10 20130101;
F21S 11/002 20130101; G02B 6/0008 20130101; H02S 40/22 20141201;
Y02E 10/52 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H02S 40/22 20060101
H02S040/22 |
Claims
1. A unit for light conversion in a building, the unit comprising:
a solar panel comprising photovoltaic cells without any
light-absorbing or light-reflecting coating such as to be raw, the
photovoltaic cells having a wavelength range of conversion
optimized for natural sunlight; an enclosure surrounding the solar
panel and preventing the exposure of the solar panel from direct
light from outside the enclosure, the enclosure comprising an
input; and a light guide comprising an optical fiber and adapted
for optical connection to the light collector, the light guide
being connectable to the enclosure via the input, the light guide
having an output end located by the input of the enclosure and
directed toward a surface of the photovoltaic cells for
illumination thereof; and a light collector located outside the
building for collecting natural sunlight and substantially guiding
the natural sunlight into the light guide, the light collector
comprising a concave portion for light collection, the concave
portion being one of a dish and a reflector of a lamp.
2. A unit for light conversion receiving light from a light
collector, the unit comprising: a solar panel comprising
photovoltaic cells without any light-absorbing or light-reflecting
coating such as to be raw; an enclosure surrounding the solar panel
and preventing the exposure of the solar panel from direct light
from outside the enclosure, the enclosure comprising an input; and
a light guide adapted for optical connection to the light collector
located outside the enclosure, the light guide being connectable to
the enclosure via the input.
3. A unit for light conversion, the unit comprising: a solar panel
comprising uncoated photovoltaic cells; and an enclosure
surrounding the solar panel and comprising an input for a light
guide connectable to the enclosure via the input.
Description
BACKGROUND
(a) Field
[0001] The subject matter disclosed generally relates to light
collection and conversion. More specifically, it relates to an
enclosed solar panel system.
(b) Related Prior Art
[0002] Sunlight is an abundant source of energy. The ability to
harvest sunlight for conversion into another form of energy is
useful many purposes.
[0003] The building industry is making attempts to embrace solar
energy. Rooftops of buildings are evolving over time, as buildings
get adapted for the installation of solar panels on top of them.
These solar panels can be photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight
into electric power, or solar thermal panels that collect heat from
the radiation for heating water, for example.
[0004] Retrofitting existing buildings to meet such needs can be
difficult. Changing the location and orientation of a building to
modify its exposure to sunlight is impossible. Modifying
architectural elements of the building to integrate solar panels
may not be feasible or may be impractical from an architectural
point of view.
[0005] Furthermore, the addition of solar panels on the rooftop
requires the roof to have access for maintenance staff and
available space for the solar panels, a requirement that is
worsened by the fact solar panels are usually inclined (i.e., they
require a greater surface area) and require space in-between for
the circulation of maintenance staff. Moreover, the roof must be
able to withstand the significant weight of the solar panels.
SUMMARY
[0006] According to an embodiment, there is provided a unit for
light conversion in a building, the unit comprising: [0007] a solar
panel comprising photovoltaic cells without any light-absorbing or
light-reflecting coating such as to be raw, the photovoltaic cells
having a wavelength range of conversion optimized for natural
sunlight; [0008] an enclosure surrounding the solar panel and
preventing the exposure of the solar panel from direct light from
outside the enclosure, the enclosure comprising an input; and
[0009] a light guide comprising an optical fiber and adapted for
optical connection to the light collector, the light guide being
connectable to the enclosure via the input, the light guide having
an output end located by the input of the enclosure and directed
toward a surface of the photovoltaic cells for illumination
thereof; and [0010] a light collector located outside the building
for collecting natural sunlight and substantially guiding the
natural sunlight into the light guide, the light collector
comprising a concave portion for light collection, the concave
portion being one of a dish and a reflector of a lamp.
[0011] According to another embodiment, there is provided unit for
light conversion receiving light from a light collector, the unit
comprising: [0012] a solar panel comprising photovoltaic cells
without any light-absorbing or light-reflecting coating such as to
be raw; [0013] an enclosure surrounding the solar panel and
preventing the exposure of the solar panel from direct light from
outside the enclosure, the enclosure comprising an input; and
[0014] a light guide adapted for optical connection to the light
collector located outside the enclosure, the light guide being
connectable to the enclosure via the input.
[0015] According to another embodiment, there is provided unit for
light conversion, the unit comprising: [0016] a solar panel
comprising uncoated photovoltaic cells; and [0017] an enclosure
surrounding the solar panel and comprising an input for a light
guide connectable to the enclosure via the input.
[0018] As will be realized, the subject matter disclosed and
claimed is capable of modifications in various respects, all
without departing from the scope of the claims. Accordingly, the
drawings and the description are to be regarded as illustrative in
nature, and not as restrictive and the full scope of the subject
matter is set forth in the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] Further features and advantages of the present disclosure
will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken
in combination with the appended drawings, in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a picture illustrating a sunlight harnessing
system, according to the prior art;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a side view of a system comprising a light
collector feeding a solar panel in an enclosure, according to an
embodiment;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a picture showing a perspective view of a light
collector, according to an embodiment;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a cross-section of a light collector with incoming
light rays being reflected to a focal point, according to an
embodiment;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a side view of a light capturing element with
incoming light rays being reflected therein and captured, according
to an embodiment; and
[0025] FIG. 6 is a side view of a light collector with a light
capturing element installed at a focal spot therein and a light
guide extending therefrom, according to an embodiment;
[0026] FIG. 7 is a side view of a system comprising a plurality of
light collectors feeding a plurality of enclosed solar panels
installed side-by-side, according to an embodiment;
[0027] FIG. 8 is a side view of a system comprising a plurality of
light collectors feeding a plurality of piled-up enclosed solar
panels, according to an embodiment;
[0028] FIG. 9 is a side view of a system comprising a plurality of
light collectors feeding a plurality of piled-up enclosed solar
panels, according to another embodiment;
[0029] FIG. 10 is a side view of a system comprising a plurality of
light collectors feeding a plurality of piled-up enclosed solar
panels and a lighting device, according to an embodiment;
[0030] FIG. 11 is a side view of an enclosure comprising a solar
panel with a lens system, according to an embodiment;
[0031] FIG. 12 is a side view of a system comprising rooftop light
collectors feeding enclosed solar panels in a building, according
to an embodiment; and
[0032] FIG. 13 is a side view of another embodiment of a light
collector to be used in the system, according to an embodiment.
[0033] It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like
features are identified by like reference numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a prior art system for
harnessing solar energy. FIG. 1 is a picture of a real life system
comprising solar panels on the rooftop of a building. On the
picture, it is apparent that the real-life solar panels are bulky.
The bulkiness is even worsened by the inclination of the solar
panels, which is a common feature of solar panels installations in
regions of middle to high latitude because it is preferable if
solar panels are perpendicular to the incoming sunlight, and the
Sun has an inclination in the sky. A walkable surface for
maintenance access is also shown in FIG. 1.
[0035] This configuration has been determined as requiring too much
surface area on the rooftop, and requiring reinforcement of the
rooftop structure. This is therefore not convenient, and
retrofitting for installing solar panels is hard and costly.
[0036] Furthermore, the solar panels are exposed to weather and
other environmental conditions that require maintenance (dust
accumulation, exposition to various debris, degradation of
materials). These environmental conditions further require the
photovoltaic cells of the solar panels to be protected by a coating
because the raw (i.e., naked) photovoltaic cells cannot withstand
these environmental conditions.
[0037] The coating over the raw photovoltaic cells has the
undesirable effect of absorbing and reflecting a fraction of the
incoming light, thereby reducing the overall performance of the
coated solar panel compared to an uncoated one.
[0038] According to an embodiment, the solar panel 200 comprising
photovoltaic cells is provided in a location where the weather and
other damageable environmental conditions are substantially absent.
According to an embodiment, the solar panel 200 is provided in an
enclosure 100, as shown in FIG. 2, which acts as a protection
against such potentially damaging environmental conditions.
Protective walls can be used instead of an enclosure as long as
they are advantageously positioned to protect the solar panel from
dust, debris and the like. However, portability (for easy
transport) is less likely to be ensured by protective walls than if
an enclosure 100 is used. Indeed, the enclosure 100 is like a box.
It can therefore be handled by someone and displaced where
needed.
[0039] Protecting the solar panel by providing a protective
enclosure 100 or any similar barrier makes possible the removal of
the coating on the photovoltaic cells since the risk of damaging
the raw photovoltaic cells is greatly reduced by providing the
enclosure or walls. Therefore, according to an embodiment, the
solar panel 200 is provided with raw photovoltaic cells (i.e., they
have no coating). The performance of solar panel 200 is thereby
increased, thereby mitigating the other losses that may result from
guiding light from a collector to an enclosure, as described
below.
[0040] Providing such an enclosure 100 or walls blocks incoming
sunlight, since the barrier for precipitation, dust, debris and the
like also acts as a barrier for sunlight. Moreover, one of the
advantages of installing a solar panel in an enclosure lies in the
possibility of installing the enclosure at an arbitrary location,
for example at a convenient location in a building. Therefore,
there is a need for a light collector that would collect and
redirect incoming sunlight toward the inside of the enclosure where
it can be received by the solar panel. Referring to FIG. 3, there
is shown an embodiment of a light collector 10.
[0041] According to an embodiment, the light collector 10 is
designed to facilitate the retrofitting into existing buildings,
i.e., the materials required to build the light collector 10 and
its dimensions do not cause the light collector 10 to have
excessive weight. The light collector 10 can be fabricated in
small-weight versions that can be installed on rooftops without
alterations to the roof structure to improve the weight-supporting
capacity. The light collector 10 does not need to be inclined in
order to have a satisfying performance.
[0042] Furthermore, as will be realized below, the functionality of
redirecting light rather than concentrating it allows for a greater
versatility in the user of the light collector 10. The light
collector 10 can be used to transmit the light elsewhere in the
building for lighting purposes, without any conversion, because
light guides can be used to split the optical power into various
guides that can then be routed to various locations for different
applications.
[0043] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary light collector 10 that can be
modular, like the enclosures 100. The light collector 10 of FIG. 3
comprises a concave portion 15. The concave portion 15 has a bowl
shape and defines an inner surface 16 and an outer surface 17. The
inner surface 16 needs to be reflective.
[0044] To provide a reflective inner surface 16, a reflective
coating, made of an optically-reflective material, can be provided
on the inner surface 16. Since the concave portion 15 is intended
to substantially focus light, i.e., to bring light toward an
approximate location, a substantially specular reflection is
preferred over diffuse reflection. Preferably, the
optically-reflective material should be selected to meet this
requirement.
[0045] The term "optically-reflective" is intended to mean that
relevant wavelength ranges are substantially reflected. Different
wavelength ranges are expected to be reflected with different
efficiencies (i.e., different percentages of reflection). The
percentage that is not reflected is usually absorbed by the inner
surface 16; this situation is usually undesirable, and therefore
higher percentages of reflection are most often desired. In some
circumstances, only certain/selected optical wavelengths are
desired (wavelength ranges that are well converted by photovoltaic
cells) while others are undesirable (e.g., infrared that only
dissipate into heat, or other wavelength ranges that are not
converted by photovoltaic cells and heat them, thereby decreasing
their performance). These other undesirable wavelength ranges can
be substantially cut off by providing a selective reflective
coating. This configuration removes the undesirable (e.g.,
infrared) radiations from the radiations transmitted into the
building, thereby preventing a major cause of heating in the
building.
[0046] A light guide 30 is used for guiding the light collected by
the light collector 10 toward the enclosure 100 containing the
solar panel 200. The light guide 30 transmits light radiation on a
certain distance, usually through a material (e.g., when the light
guide 30 is an optical fiber). This material has optical properties
including a coefficient of absorption, which is a function of the
wavelength. Some wavelengths travel better than others (i.e., some
wavelengths have higher percentages of transmission than others) in
the light guide's material. The reflective properties of the inner
surface 16 should therefore match the transmission properties of
the light guide 30 to make sure that desirable wavelengths are both
reflected in a suitably high percentage by the inner surface 16 and
transmitted in a suitably high percentage by the light guide 30. If
there are provided other optical parts (e.g., lenses, mirrors,
couplers, multiplexers, etc.) with which light interacts, the same
principle of consistency applies. If only specific wavelength
ranges are transmitted with high efficiency, solar panels with
photovoltaic cells that have greater efficiency with the wavelength
ranges can be used.
[0047] As mentioned above, the concave portion 15 is used to
substantially focus light toward a given point or spot. The concave
portion 15 is concave because the concavity allows the focusing of
incoming light. The concave portion 15 can have a paraboloid inner
surface 16 (a paraboloid is the shape created by a rotating
parabola), the optical properties of the paraboloid being known to
those skilled in optical technologies. Most interestingly, light
rays incoming in a line parallel with the axis of the paraboloid
are focused to the focal point of the paraboloid. If light rays are
not parallel to the axis, they end up being focused at other points
which together define the focal plane of the paraboloid.
[0048] A light capturing element 20, illustrated in FIG. 5, is
provided within the concavity of the concave portion (or slightly
outside thereof), at or closed to the focal point, as shown in FIG.
6. The light capturing element 20 occupies some volume in space
(i.e., it is not a mere point) and therefore it occupies some space
around the focal point. That focal sport f is shown in FIG. 4.
Preferably, the light capturing element 20 extends along some
portion of the focal plane.
[0049] The light capturing element 20 needs to comprise a light
transmitting surface, such as glass, in order to effectively
capture incoming and focused light. A substantial ball shape is a
suitable shape that occupies space around the focal sport and that
can capture light.
[0050] According to an embodiment, the light capturing element 20
is the envelope of a light bulb (i.e., the glass forming the bulb),
as shown in FIGS. 5-6.
[0051] The light capturing element 20 needs a support 22 so it can
stand and remain at the desired location (the focal sport), which
is usually a floating point above the bottom of the concave portion
15. Strings or thin rods can be provided at an upper edge of the
concave portion for holding the light capturing element 20 in
suspension above the bottom of the concave portion 15, at the focal
spot.
[0052] In a preferred embodiment, the support 22 is a lightbulb
socket, as shown in FIGS. 5-6. It means that the light capturing
element 20 is a lightbulb having both the glass bulb and its
supporting socket. In comparison with a standard lightbulb, this
embodiment has the filament removed.
[0053] In this embodiment, the support 22, which is a lightbulb
socket, can be screwed, mounted (e.g., using a bayonet mount),
pinned, or otherwise held in place at the bottom of the concave
portion 15. A recess can be provided at the bottom of the concave
portion 15 for mounting the support 22. The length of the support
22 and/or of the light capturing element 20 should be adjusted or
selected so that the light capturing element 20 is high enough to
be located at the focal spot.
[0054] As shown in FIG. 5, the light capturing element 20 has a
shape adapted for capturing or retaining incoming light rays. Light
rays refract while entering the glass or other material forming the
light capturing element 20. They refract again inside the light
capturing element 20 (which is shown as being hollow, either with a
vacuum inside or air). If the index of refraction of the glass or
other material forming the light capturing element 20 is in the
right range, most of the light rays inside the light capturing
element 20 undergo total internal reflection instead of
transmission and refraction outside the light capturing element 20.
If all interactions of the light rays inside the light capturing
element 20 are total internal reflections, the light rays are
captured inside the light capturing element 20. Some coatings,
fillings and other materials with different indices of refraction
can be added in the light capturing element 20 to ensure that the
total internal reflections are occurring as needed. When a light
ray reaches the bottom of the light capturing element 20, it can be
collected by the light guide for transmission elsewhere. An example
of a capture of a light ray is shown in FIG. 5.
[0055] By providing a light guide 30 such as an optical fiber that
starts in the bottom of the light capturing element 20, captured
light rays can enter the light guide 30 by one of its ends and
travel therethrough to another location within the building where
it is optically connected to the enclosure 100. A light guide 30
extending from the bottom of the light capturing element 20 and
being routed out from the light collector 10 is shown in FIG.
6.
[0056] The resulting light collector 10 is therefore very compact.
It does not weigh more than small objects being brought up
temporarily on a rooftop and therefore, no structural
solidifications are required to install the light collector 10 on a
building's rooftop. Furthermore, the light collector 10, in an
embodiment, can advantageously be built from existing objects that
are widely available and rather inexpensive in comparison with
usual components of sunlight harnessing technologies.
[0057] For example, there exist many types of lamps having a
reflector with the same shape as the light collector 10 illustrated
in FIG. 3. The reflectors also have a socket adapted for receiving
a lightbulb. Therefore, the light collector 10 can be manufactured
by providing a reflector of a lamp and a lightbulb. The lightbulb
can be built without the filament and with an aperture provided at
the bottom of its metallic socket. An optical fiber can be inserted
into the bottom aperture of the lightbulb and secured therein (with
adhesive or mechanical fixation means), while extending from the
lightbulb for light transmission. The light collector 10 thus
manufactured can be mounted on a support 11 for installation at a
location where there is light, such as a rooftop. The light guide
30 is extending into the space under the roof (e.g., in the attic)
and can be used for guiding elsewhere. A coupler (not shown) may be
used to connect another light guide for further guiding.
[0058] FIG. 13 shows another exemplary embodiment of a light
collector 10, where the inner surface 16 of the concave portion 15
is a dish installed on a support 11, where the light guide 30 has
its light-receiving end at the focal spot of the light collector
10.
[0059] The guided light can be used for conversion to electricity
by a photovoltaic cell of the solar panel 200, or for lighting
(general lighting, task lighting, etc.), heating, etc. The
lighting, heating and conversion to electricity can be performed
anywhere permitted by the length of the light guide, usually inside
the building, as shown in FIG. 12.
[0060] FIGS. 7-10 show that an arbitrary number of light collectors
10 can be used with an arbitrary number of applications, for
example, an arbitrary number of enclosed solar panels 200. They can
also be installed side-by-side (FIG. 7), piled up (FIGS. 8-10),
and/or scattered over an area, e.g., on different floors of a
building (FIG. 12). This arbitrary number of light collectors 10 is
permitted by the modular nature of the light collectors, and the
arbitrary number of enclosed solar panels 200 is permitted by the
modular nature thereof. The light guides 30 and/or the bundle 35 of
a plurality of light guides 30 ensure the optical connection
between the light collectors 10, on one side, and the enclosed
solar panels 200 on the other side. Applications different from
solar panels 200 can also be provided at the application end of the
system, for example lighting, as shown in FIG. 10 where the
applications optically connected to the light collectors 10 via
light guides 30 are heterogeneous.
[0061] If a plurality of light collectors 10 and a plurality of
applications such as enclosed solar panels 200 are used, they can
be either connected directed directly from one to another, as shown
in FIG. 2, or can be connected via a bundle 35 of light guides 30.
The bundle 35 may comprise light guides 30 fastened together to
form a bundle, or merged together to form one larger light guide
than can be split at a downstream location into a plurality of
light guides for delivering light into applications.
[0062] This configuration ensures that the whole system can be
modular at both levels: collection and conversion. As shown in FIG.
12, the light collectors 10 and the solar panels in their
enclosures 100 are both disseminated respectively on and in the
building according to the available space. Any convenient
configuration of light collectors 10 and the solar panels in their
enclosures 100 can be contemplated. The enclosures 100 containing
the solar panels 200 are shown inside a building but can be
elsewhere since the enclosures form a self-contained unit that can
be displaced and still be used as long as it is optically connected
to the light guides 30 which bring light in.
[0063] An optical connector 110 can be provided at the entrance of
the enclosure 100, as shown in FIG. 11. This optical connector 110
can be mechanically coupled to the light guide 30 or bundle 35 for
receiving light in the enclosure 100. For example, the optical
connector 110 may comprise a snap-fit fastener cooperating with a
similar piece on the end of the light guide 30, for clipping the
light guide 30 into optical connector 110. In another example, it
could rather comprise a screwable collet that shrinks inwardly when
screwed to hold the light guide 30 in place.
[0064] FIGS. 2-10 show that the light exiting the light guide 30
into the enclosure 100 is simply emitted toward the solar panel
200. However, there may be cases when it is desirable to provide a
specific light intensity profile over the area of the solar panel
200. For example, a lens system 250, which can go from very simple
to very complex, can be provided inside the enclosure 100 to give a
specific intensity profile to the incoming light on the solar panel
200. According to an embodiment, the lens system 250 is a
convergent lens acting as a collimator to collimate the diverging
light beam into a parallel light beam that is received by the solar
panel in a more uniform intensity over the area of the solar panel
200.
[0065] Since the solar panel 200 is enclosed within the enclosure
100, it can be oriented arbitrarily inside the enclosure 100. If it
is not provided horizontally on the bottom of the enclosure, it
needs to be held firmly in place to avoid falling down using a
fastener such as clips, screws, a mounting frame, adhesive or any
other suitable means for fastening the solar panel 200 to the
enclosure 100.
[0066] While preferred embodiments have been described above and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be evident to
those skilled in the art that modifications may be made without
departing from this disclosure. Such modifications are considered
as possible variants comprised in the scope of the disclosure.
* * * * *